Grove footballers, netballers invited to join upgrade push

OCEAN Grove sporting clubs have encouraged their players, families and members to have their say on the town’s sporting infrastructure plan.

The City of Greater Geelong is finalising a planning strategy for upgrades to Ocean Grove’s six sporting reserves over the next 10 years, to cater for a population boom in recent years.

Ocean Grove Football and Netball Club stand to be one of the big winners from the proposed upgrades.

The plan would move Surfside Waves Soccer Club to Devlins Road Reserve in the Oakdene estate to manage growth for both clubs.

The soccer shift would mean the existing soccer pitches at Shell Road Reserve could become a second football oval, and make room for another netball court and new off-court facilities.

The region’s Arthur Powel, Collendina, Memoral and Wallington reserves are also due upgrades as part of the draft plan.

OGFNC hosted an information session last week on the plan and is encouraging its members to have their say.

“We will have a facility dedicated purely to football and netball during the winter months which will lead to benefits in areas such as training schedules, volunteer workload and a greater sense of belonging to our members,” the club told its members.

“The more feedback that council receives, the greater the likelihood that the recommendations will go ahead so your feedback via the COGG website is greatly appreciated.”

COGG released a draft plan in May for community feedback, which it will incorporate into the final strategy that will guide a decade of development.

Feedback is open until 5pm Sunday (July 10) on the COGG website.